#bts space

Vairuit looked at her new companion with great interest. She’d heard all about the Ifrit from her Clansmen but never had the opportunity to see one up close. They were true to the tales, taller than the Heavens and with skin as dark as the space they traveled through. Her clansmen varied from Clan to Clan, different colors but all with the vibrant eye shades that had one thinking that their eyes were glass. All the better to see you with, some said. Being of the Mao, her clansmen were called the Ngeru-Ngeru; a noble line which prided themselves on bringing about the most highly decorated and ferocious Mao.

However.

Vairuit always wanted a life of adventure over rank. That’s how she found herself all the way out there, looking at the Ifrit who offered her a deal. One that would benefit both of them and she would get the adventure she was seeking. Truthfully, she’d been wandering around for far too long as she was a social creature but one that had been around her other clan members. Hopping from place to place and hoping that there would be something on the other side was starting to get weary when all along? She should have just waited for something to settle in her lap there on Sagittarius. And to think that it would involve the Pirates again, something that made her lick her lips in excitement.

There was always time to fuck over Pirates, even more so when they had been doing too much. And getting into everyone’s business like they owned the space around them, that was something she had said before about them.

“20 thousand credits and we have a deal.”

They were currently at another bar, one on the far side of the town as a place to hide out for a moment. Nyala recognized her ability the moment that she quite literally burst in the scene and if she remembered her lore correctly, the Mao were known for their fighting skills. So she would be a great asset, especially once she got Lirael back on her feet because she could not fight herself. Only had abilities that she was still discovering while she was out and functional. The Ifrit grinned, a bit wolfish herself with the action as she shook Vairuit’s hand in agreement, quite pleased with the price of a bodyguard. It seemed that the other that she had been waiting on had just missed out but it wasn’t any matter to her anymore. She had what she had originally come down there for, even if it wasn’t on the ship she arrived in.

Vairuit stretched and laughed, happy with how things turned out before ordering another drink for the both of them. Nyala had to admit that this adventure was going to turn quite fun despite the circumstances. The threat of death, no matter how painful, was always more tolerable when one could say that they didn’t regret anything that they did in the process.

Was that the life of an Outlaw?

Nyala reminded Vairuit that drinking excessively would have to wait until they retrieved a piece of equipment that she had hidden from the pirates. The Mao laughed and reassured her that it would take a lot more than that to get her even remotely tipsy, though she didn’t want to test that theory because her body possibly could not handle it. After a few more drinks, they finally left the bar but not without someone noticing their movements.

“Jungkook, I’m picking up multiple reports of pirates in your region. It seems that they’re gathering in one spot like they’re about to ambush something or someone. I don’t recognize the symbol but I don’t trust it so I’m about to close shop-- permanently.”

He sighed at the message from his partner, feeling a bit frustrated by the turn of events. Jungkook was finally starting to like Sagittarius after being there for over 2 years. Jin and himself had settled there after being on the run for so long from the same enemy. It had taken a while for Jin to recover after what was done to him. So he had struck out on odd jobs until he was well enough to participate. And now? All of that was going down the pipes with the arrival of this client, who had drug their worst fears to them. Or was it only just a matter of time? That was something he would have to ask fate or whoever it was that was up there in the sky, dictating their lives.

“A camera caught the picture of the client, speeding down the highway towards the southern sector. That would put them near us but the way that they seem to be going, there’s nothing out there but rural houses and caves. Oh, and you should know that she’s accompanied by a Mao.”

“It seems that she no longer needs protection with her around, huh? I don’t trust it, Jin.” replied Jungkook, taking the next exit that would put him on the path that his client took. He heard his partner sigh in his ear, humming in agreement. Whatever they were doing was bringing the whole damn calvary down upon them all and that wasn’t good for anyone. And he wasn’t about to have those fuckers chasing after them once they realized who all was converged there. His foot pressed on the pedal harder, making the engine roar louder as he himself sped down that same highway.

“Are you sure this is the place? There’s nothing out here but grain and mammals.”

Nyala looked up at the area where she had stashed Lirael in her cryosleep container. She was absolutely sure that it was the place, bringing out a device from a pocket. She punched in a few of the buttons and the field that she had placed over the building fell, revealing a two-story home that had been long abandoned. They both grinned at each other and headed in, the second floor where she had been put. However, neither of them noticed that there was someone hot on their tail. Just one person that had been speeding his way to get to them, hair flying in the wind.

It wasn’t until Nyala had the crate almost up to their car when the sound of his engine could be heard by Vairuit. Hackles rising, she turned towards the vehicle as it approached as she was ready to attack if needed. Still, the car did not fire upon them nor did it make any aggressive movements towards them which Nyala noted. She held up a hand to her companion and eyeballed the car herself. She couldn’t be sure if the person coming towards them was friend or foe with all the energy brewing.

It wasn’t until the man roared up to them that she could sense things clearly. He harbored some animosity but not to the point where he wanted to interfere with them.

“What in the actual fuck are you two doing? You’re bringing pirates on all of us?!”

“Excuse you but we are busy here so run along.”

The newcomer and Vairuit almost immediately butted heads while Nyala stopped what she was doing to intervene. She stepped between both of them and looked down at the male, eyes glowing with urgency.

“We are leaving now. There is no need for you to be here if pirates are coming but they are coming for us and not you.”

The male sighed sharply and ran a hand through his hair as he thought about what she said. It wouldn’t be long if they had already tried to ambush them at the bar, which meant that they were probably on almost on top of them. He turned on his heel and went around the car to inspect what she was doing. Nyala followed him and slapped his hands away from the crate, making him turn a full circle when she threw him off. His eyes hardened when he faced her again and Vairuit stepped closer to the Ifrit, eyeballing him as well.

“Is that why they’re after you? Whatever it is, the Demon Armada is after you. When you were supposed to meet up with me at the bar, I saw the aftermath of what happened. I don’t care what it was that you did but you just jeopardized my being here. So like it or not, we’re working together. So tell me what’s in the box.”

“I am not splitting my pay with you. I’m all that she needs so back off!”

“Then I’m doing it for free. What’s. In. the. Box?”

The argument that was starting to break out between Vairuit and the newcomer was getting heated but Nyala felt a strange disturbance. In the distance, there had been several others that started to gather there and if they left soon--they might have a chance to escape. She opened her mouth to tell them of the developments but a bullet ricocheted off the side of his car, alerting them to the danger that had gathered. The man whipped around and pulled out a pistol, aiming it at where it came from while Vairuit growled as she dropped into an attack stance. Nyala covered the box with part of her body in response, checking to make sure that it wasn’t hit. A voice floated above them, or was it around them? The voice seemed disembodied as it spoke to them, slowly and as if it was enjoying seeing them squirm.

Nyala of the Ifrit. You took something you weren't supposed to and we need the both of them back. Give us the Android and the Antares back. You and your companions will die merciful deaths should you comply.

She sucked in a breath at the words, ready to defy them regardless. The male cursed and hit the car, glaring at both of them. He was right, she realized and whether or not she wanted it--they were now all working together, regardless of who was getting paid. She turned to the male and held up a hand to calm him down. He was ready to fire at someone, she could tell but if they were to get out of there safely then all hands needed to be calm.

“You said you waited for me at the bar? Then you must be Jungkook. Listen, they absolutely cannot get what is inside this box. If they do, then they will be able to act on their delusions and that will cause many lives to be lost. Please, help us get out of here and to my ship.”

At her words, he paused and looked her dead in the eye as if he was trying to ascertain whether or not she was telling the truth. There was something in his eyes that seemed to know what she was talking about. Something flickered in the back of his mind, a warning or was it something from long ago? He couldn’t be sure but helping them out, they all now had no choice in the matter. He grunted and went to his trunk, grabbing some chains to hook up his car to the back of theirs. Nyala took that as a sign to get the crate in the back of her car.

When the voice spoke, the group was still fairly far off but by the time they were ready--they were now within her eyesight. And they had quite a few people there gathered to stop them, where ever they decided to go. The voice called out again for their surrender between the three of them, each of them showed their disinterest in the group as they sped off. Vairuit was in the front seat with Nyala, whom was driving and Jungkook was in the back with the crate. He had taken off one of his energy shields and placed it on the crate because he knew that there would be gunfire.

“Jin, I’m going to be coming in hot. Meet us at the ship, we’re going to blow this place.” He had pushed the earpiece to talk to his partner, who grumbled the entire time. As they sped along, the car behind them being drug faithfully--the pirates had slowly started to catch up to them as it was now a race to see who could get to whom first. Shots were soon fired, making Nyala swerve a bit. Vairuit and Jungkook both fired back while she drove. She gritted her teeth as a thought passed her mind but she shoved that thought back.

She would not use that just now.

The gun and shells were warm against her ribs, where she had them holstered. A constant reminder of what destructive things she learned during her time abroad. Ducking from another shot, Jungkook handed Vairuit a couple more weapons that he had on his body before taking aim again. That was getting them nowhere and the distance was slowly being shortened between the both of them.

“Slow down a bit! I’ve got a surprise for them!” He called out over his shoulder to Nyala. She gave him a panicked look through the rearview mirror but complied. Just a little closer, he thought. His hand reached inside his jacket to grab a grenade that he had stashed there, just in case. After doing so, he took off the jacket that he had on and tossed it to the winds. He pulled the pin in the same action, the jacket flying out of his hands and towards the pursuers. They jerked away from the object, thinking that there was something in it. Jungkook tossed the grenade in the cockpit of the car and shot the chain off.

The car, now released, spun out of control backward towards the group. The majority of them could not avoid the large object so suddenly and when it exploded, it took out a good chunk of them. The car was used for an even bigger explosion and shrapnel damage as well. Nyala slammed her foot down on the pedal while Vairuit cheered, their speed increasing greatly. That would only give them a certain amount of time but it gave them time to get away.